Printing machines



Jan. 13, 1959 Filed Sept. `26, 1955 FIG. I

W. J. HAMPTON PRINTING MACHINES e sneets-shet 1 lgiiill.: f

l 1 I I l INVENTOR.

WILLIAM J. HAMPTON ATTORNEYS Jai.. 13, 1959 Filed Sept. 26, 1955 w. J.HAMPTON PRINTING MACHINES 'www Ii i 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

WILLIAM J. HAMPTON ATTORNEYS Jan. 13, 1959 w. J. HAMPTON 2,858,121

PRINTING MACHINES Filed Sept. 26. 1955 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Sw MS mw NS S I@S NS h/ I NS W J l i m l NN Nw VGQ@ ,s www EN NRM MMS h wm www E www hSN NSM m um. NQ Nh n [lhlwl m Q llwl g \v \M\N @I i SN wm QQ@ MRM QQ wlwm O u INVENTOR. WlLLlAM J. HAMPTON ATTORNEYS Jan. 13, 1959 w. J. HAMPTONPRINTING MACHINES 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Sept, 26, 1955 v lp n J.:005.10 .#m 222 o m wmmzJu 2550s.

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rk NN Jan. 13, 1959 WIJ. HAMPTON PRINTING MACHINES 6 Sheets-Sheet 5Filed Sept. 26, 1955 INVENTOR. WILLIAM J. HAMPTON ATTORNEYS Hull .WWmN El., wlmv I m I MQW mf I l wWfs l m -u mw NG Jan. 13, 1959 w. J. HAMPTON'2,868,121

4 PRINTING MACHINES Filed sept. 2e, 1955 6 sneetssheet e gigi l I w8FIG. 9

-lN-VENTOR. WILLIAM J. HAMPTON ATTORNEYS United States Patent C)PRINTING MACHINES William J. Hampton, South Euclid, Ohio, assignor toAddressograph-Multigraph Corporation, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation ofDelaware Application September 26, 1955, Serial No. 536,553

1 Claim. (Cl. 101-336) This invention relates to printing machines andmore particularly to printing machines that utilize a ribbon forproducing impressions.

As is well known, printing machines which utilize a ribbon cooperatingwith a printing plate to produce irnpressions usually embody a ribbonreversing means for reversing the direction of ribbon feed when thesupply spool or the like for the ribbon is exhausted, and the primaryobject `of the present invention is a ribbon reversing means adapted tooperate on a relatively simple principle and one which includes aminimum of actuating structure responsive to the exhaustion of the meanssupplying the ribbon. Specifically, the object of the invention is toutilize a feed lever having alternate fulcrums enabling feed means onthe lever to be alternately operative. When the tension on the ribbon isexcessive, as where the ribbon is exhausted on the supply spool, meansare then effective to shift the fulcrum and this movement in turn iseffective to disable the one feed means on the feed lever and to disposethe other feed means in operative position.

Heretofore, the ribbon for printing has usually taken the form in mostinstances of a woven fabric ribbon such that the discontinuous patternor weave of the ribbon is perceivablein the impressions produced, andthis is deemed objectionable where it is desired to obtain impressionscomparable to that obtained yfrom letter-press printing. A furtherobject of the invention is to enable solid, that is, uniformlycontinuous, character impressions to be made from a ribbon, andspecifically to produce such characters from a carbon-faced ribbon incontrast to a fabric ribbon impregnated with ink. A carbon ribbon may beprepared by coating a narrow tough web. of tissue paper with carbonduplicating material of any known kind. Paper of this kind is of courseline-textured. in contrast to the coarse weave of a fabric ribbon, andbeing coated rather than impregnated with duplicating materialimpressions taken therefrom will be uniformily solid and not broken.

Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent fromthe following description and claim and are illustratedin theaccompanying drawings which by` way of illustratio-n, show preferredembodiments of the present invention and the principles thereof and whatI now consider to be the best mode in which I have contemplated applyingthese principles. Other embodiments of the invention embodying the sameor equivalent principles may be used and structural changes may be madeas desired by those skilled in the art without departing from thepresent invention and the purview of the appended claim.

In the drawings:

Fig.` 1 is a side elevational view of a hand operated printing machineembodying the features of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the machine as shown inFig. l; l

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the machine as shown in ICC Fig. 1, thisview being partly in section along the line 3 3 of Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of the side of the machine oppositethat shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4A is a plan view of a printing device;

Fig. 4B is an end elevation of the printing device shown in Fig. 4A; A

Fig. 5 is an elevational view, partly in section, taken just rearwardlyof the printing anvil as in Fig. 8 and looking in a forward direction;

Fig. 6 is a detail view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 7 so as to showthe opposite side of certain parts appearing in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on the line 7-7 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. l;

Fig. 9 is la detail of the take-up spool;

Fig. l0 is a plan view, part in section, of the take-up spool andcertain means associated therewith;

Fig. 11 is a sectional View taken on the line 11-11 of Fig. l0; and

Figs. 12 and 13 are perspective views, respectively of the supply spooland the ribbon clamp associated therewith.

General description The present invention is herein illustrated asembodied in a hand operated printing machine 20, Fig. 1, of the kindillustrated in the co-pending application Ser. No. 445,771, led July 26,1954. This printing machine is Iadapted to utilize printing devices D ofthe kind shown in Fig. 4A, but the printing device D is only exemplaryof a printing device removably carrying a printing plate formed withembossures for printing. Thus, the printing device D embodies a frame 25on which is disposed a at metallic printing plate 26 having embossedtype characters 26T formed thereon, and it will be observed that suchtype characters are of reverse reading style so as to cooperate with acarbon-faced imprinting ribbon during printing from the embossures 26Tas will be4 described.

In the upper area or portion of the printing device D, an index card 27is removably retained, and this index card carries an impression 27Pfrom the plate 26 for readily identifying the printing plate 26.

The printing machine 20 in this instance embodies a relatively rigidand' stable base structure supporting at the rear end of the machine anupstanding magazine 30, Figs. 1 and 4, in which the printing devices Dare adapted to be stacked one on the other, and during the course ofoperation of the machine the printing devices D are advanced by -feedmeans one by one from the bottom of the magazine 30 forwardly along aguideway in the machine to a printing station 32, Fig. l, and from theprinting station 32 into a collecting magazine 36 which is disposed atthe front of the machine below the plane of the printing station. y

The supply magazine 30 is formed of opposed sheet metal stampings 30Land 30K, Fig. 3, which include front and rear portions of the printingdevices D stacked therein so that the corner embracing flanges in eachmember 30L and 30R are spaced apart in a front to rear direction thewidth of device D.

Forward feeding of the printing devices occurs as any incident torepeated raising and lowering of a platen lever 37 which supports astamper platen 38 of the usual kind. The platen lever 37, as will beobserved in Fig. 2, is in the form of a yoke including rearwardlyextending arms 37L and 37R, and at the forward end the lever 37 isprovided with a handle H. In the present instance, a carbon ribbon CR,Figs. 1, 3 and 4, is stretched transversely across the printing station32 soasl to be directly beneath the platen 38 in lowered position, andthe carbon face of the ribbon faces upwardly. A printing device as Dwhen at the printing station 32 underlies the carbon ribbon with. theembossed characters 26T thereof disposedV upwardly. Consequently/V,v thesheet to be printed, which will be disposed over the printing station 32so as to overlay the carbon ribbonCR, will bev imprinted on thedownwardly disposed face thereof by the type characters 26T underlyingthe carbon ribbon CR whenthe platen 38 is brought to bear upon theupwardly disposedv face of the sheet to be printed.

As` shown in Fig. 3 the re'ar ends of the arms37L and37R of the platenlever 37 are pivoted` on pins 39 and 40 supported in a way to bedescribed. When the platen lever is lowered, this is accomplished inopposition to a relatively strong spring 37S, Fig. 4, which normallyholds theY platen lever 37 in an elevated' position, and operation ofthe lever 37 also controls feeding of the ribbon CR, as will bedescribed.

Inasmuch, as ther way, in which the printing devices D are advancedtoprinting position from the magazine 30 is described in detail in theaforesaid co-pending application, the manner in which this isaccomplished need not be redescribed herein, but it is important topoint out that the printing devices during the course of forwardmovement through the machine are guided by rails that are in partsupported by a pair of'sp'aced apart mounting blocks 41L and 41R, Figs.4 and 8, which are held in spaced relation by means including a rigidspacer bar 42, Fig. 3, secured at. either end to the inner facesof themountingy blocks 4'L and 41R as by capfscrewsl 42S, Fig. 3. In likemanner, a. printing anvil A, Figs. 1 and 3, isextended betweenthemounting blocks 41]; andAlR, andthisanvil lies beneath the carbonribbonA CR: and" servesto back up the printing device as D- during theprintingv operation.

As described with particularityl in the. aforesaid copendingapplication, the. printing devicesv are advanced through the machine bycarrier bars or feed dogs, and these carrier bars are indicated at 43 inFig. 8 hereof. The carrier bars 43 are arranged for longitudinal recip=rocation on shouldersv 41S of the mounting blocks 41L and 41R, and areconned for such movement by retainer plates 44 that are secured to theinner faces of the mounting blocks. The upper edges of the plates 44 areformed with guide flanges 44F that are spaced inwardly from the upperVedges of the carrier bars 43 thereby to afford rail elements for bottomribs 25R, Fig. 4B, that are formed at eitherside edge of the printingdevice D.

In affording standards for the machine, rear legstructure is provided inthe form of a relatively heavy bar 45, Figs. l and 4. This bar is`U-shaped in vertical cross section, and thus includes vertical spacedapart arms which are adapted, respectively, to be secured to the innerfaces of the mountingy blocks 41L and 41R adjacent the supply magazine30 as by'ca'p screws 46 and 47 in each instance. Thesearmsat the upperends 45E thereof, Fig. 3, serve as rigid bearing supports for the pins39 and 40 on whichy the platen-lever 37 is pivoted. The lower or bightportion of the member 45 is provided with a resilient padfor foot 45Pfor engaging the surface upon which the' machine is to be supported.

The collectingl magazine 36 serves in part to provide forward legstructure. In this connection, it will be o-bserved first that themagazine 36 is formed tov include a pair of parallel'spaced apart sheetmetalside members 36L and 36R, Fig. 3, having in-turned forward ends 36Fwhich are adapted to engage the leading edges of the printing platesadvanced in to the magazine 36from printing position, the members 36Land 36R being spaced apart adistance corresponding to the.widthlofaprinting;

device D.

The collector 4magazine 36 as thus afforded is anchored to the forwardface of the printing anvil A by cap screws as 52, Figs. 2 and 3. Theupper end of the collector magazine 36 is disposed primarily beneath thelevel of the printing device guideway of the machine, as described inthe aforesaid co-pending application, thereby to allow the printingdevices to be fed forwardly from printing position on the anvil A so asto fall printing-face-up into the open cavity of the collecting hoppery36 and onto a yieldable bottom support 55 therein.`

Across the bottom of the collecting magazine 36, a relatively heavycross member 60, Figs. 2 and 4, is disposed, and this cross member issecured as by welding to the lower face of a horizontal bottom flange51B, Fig. 3, extending forwardly from the lower edge of the rear plate51 of the magazine 36. The cross bar 60 has resilient pads 60P, Fig. 4,Secured to the bottom face thereof, these being in the nature of the pad45P described' above.

The printing4 Station Ther printing station 32,. Fig. 1, is constitutedprimarily by the carbon ribbon CR and the printing anvil A. Referencewasmade above to the plates 44 having flanges 44F that serve to guide theprinting devices D advanced forwardy from the supply magazine 30. Itwill be observedin Fig. 3 that these flanges 44F terminate short of therear end of the printing anvilA, and it will be further observed in Fig.5 that the printing anvil A is grooved at either side edge thereof. Thelateral spacingbetween the-grooves. 7.0 thus provided` inthe printinganvil A correspondsto the lateral spacing of the anges 44F so that whena printing device as D attains printing position, the ribs 25R thereofwill be disposed in the grooves 70 and the lowerl face ofthe printingdevice will restush, on and besupported by theupper surface 71, Fig. 5,of the printing anvil A. A pair of relatively narrow, elongatedretaining plates 73 and 74 are secured to the upper edges of themountingl bars 411. and. 41R, as shown in Fig. 3, so as to preventupward displacement of the printing devices while being advanced in thedirection of the printing anvil A, and these retainers extend from1jnstforwardly of the supply magazine 30 to beyond the printing anvil A.

A ribbon guard 75, Fig. 3, is disposed over the anvil A. The guard 75includes an opening 75W through which is visible the index card as 27 ona printing device D disposed in printing position on the anvil A.Forwardly of the opening 75W and in the, portion that is directlyv overthe anvil A, the ribbon guard is provided with a relatively largeU-shaped recess 75R, Fig. 3, and it is the recess which enables theplaten 3S to cooperate with the ribbon CR to produce the desiredimpressions.

The carbon` ribbon feed.

Under the present invention, a carbon ribbon CR is arranged to traversethe printing station 32 in a step by stepfashion as an incident to eachpositive operation of the platenlever 37, and the way in which this isaccomplished will be explained after the supporting spools for thecarbon ribbon have been described.

As shown in Fig. 3, a pair of ribbon spools L and SOR are arranged onopposite sides of the machine, and the mounting means utilized in thisconnection are in the form of U-shaped brackets SIL and SIR, Fig. 3,having the web or bight portions thereof fastened by cap screws 82 t-othe outer faces of the corresponding mounting blocks 41L and 41R. Thesame cap screws, it will be observed, alsoY serve to.secure the printinganvil A to the inner faces of the mounting blocks 41L and 41R. Thespools SL and 80R are adapted to be separately driven by means includingrespective ratchet wheels 84L and'SZlR, Fig. 3, andthe operation ofsuch. will be described below.v in. connection with the ribbon reversingmeans.

estrenar `'The brackets 81L and 81R, in addition to supporting theribbon spool means, also support a pair of freely .rotatable ribbonguide rollers L and 86R, Figs. 2 and 3. The ribbon guides 86L and 86Rare formed at either end with reduced shaft portions as 88 in eachinstance, and these shaft portions are respectively provided with shortjournal pins 89 and 90 which are engaged 4in suitable openings providedin the opposite arms of each bracket 81L and 81R.

The foregoing arrangement of the ribbon spools and guides is such thatthe carbon ribbon is disposed to travel at an angle across the printingstation. By thus canting the path of the ribbon, fresh portions of theribbon will be presented to the embossures on successive ones of theprinting plates arriving at the printing station, which is to say thatthe ribbon is out of parallel with respect to the lines of embossedcharacters 26T.

Inasmuch as the spools 80L and 80R are of different construction and aresupported somewhat differently in v each instance, the two spoolarrangements will be treated separately herein. `Considering first thespool 80L, it will be observed that this spool is provided with anamount of the ribbon CR. Under the circumstances illustrated, as will bemo-re apparent from the description to follow, the spool 80L is atake-up spool, so that this spool is the one that is driven while thespool 80R is idled as a supply spool. As will be described in moredetail below, when the supply spool 80K is exhausted, ribbon reversingmeans are thereupon operative to reverse the direction of feed so thatthe take-up and supply relation between the spools 80L and 80K isreversed.

The spool 80L may be of plastic or the like and is provided with asegmental sheet metal spring clamp 93, Figs. 9 and l0. The clamp isseparable and thus includes an end 93E that engages in a notch 90Nformed in the outer periphery of the spool 80L, and the end portion ofthe ribbon CR on the spool 80L is clamped between the outer periphery ofthe spool and the inner face of the spring clamp 93.

The drive ratchet 84L for the take-up spool 80L is fast on a drive shaftwhich includes a boss 95, Fig. l0, having a reduced -end portion 95Ethat fits into the central or axial opening in the spool 80L. The driveshaft 95 is formed with a pair of opposed drive dogs 95D. These opposeddrive dogs are adapted to drivingly engage in a corresponding opposedpair of a plurality of grooves 97 formed radially about the innerdiameter -of the spool 80L, and the grooves 9'7 extend from one end ofthe spool to the other as will be clear from Fig. l0. As a consequence,step-wise rotary motion imparted to the ratchet 84L will in turn beimparted to the take-up spool 80L so as to withdraw a predeterminedamount o-f ribbon from the supply spool SUR.

Rearwardly of the ratchet wheel 84L, the drive shaft 95 is formed with areduced portion 98, Fig. 3, which extends through an opening in the reararm of the supporting bracket 81L. A sleeve 100, Fig. 3, including apair of spaced apart flanges 101 and 102 of enlarged diameter, issecured as by a set screw 103 to the reduced end portion 98 of the driveshaft 95, and interposed between the disk 102 and the rear arm of themounting lbracket 81L is a spacer bushing 105 that is carried in anopening in the rear arm of the bracket. The sleeve 100 in the portionbetween the disks 101 and 102 is clamped by a pair of segmental brakeshoes 106 and 107, Fig. 8. The segmental brake shoes thus affordedincl-nde inwardly extending arms as 108, and the ends of these arms enrbrace opposite sides of a pin 110 which is fastened to the rear arm ofthe mounting bracket 81L so as to extend rearwardly thereof as shown inFig. 3. A11 adjusting screw 112, Fig. 8, is threadedly mounted in thearms as S on the side of the pin 110 that is nearer the spool 80L,fandinterposed between the cap of this screw and the under side of the arm108 for the lower shoe 106 is a relativelyA strong coil spring 115 whichis adapted to place the shoes 106 and 107 under a selected amount oftension determined by adjustment of the screw 112. In this way, thedegree of tension or slack of the carbon ribbon while being fed may bedetermined.

The spool L at the end opposite the drive shaft 95 is supported in partby a relatively long idler shaft 115, Fig. 3, which is passed through abushing 116 mounted in the forward arm of the mounting bracket 81L. Atits inner end, the idler shaft carries a bushing 118, Figs. 9 and 10,that is adapted to t the open end of the spool 80L opposite the driveshaft 95. A pin 120, Fig. 9, is passed through aligned openings in theinner end of the idler shaft 115 and the bushing 118, and opposite endsof this pin project beyond the bushing 118 to engage in a pair of thegrooves 97 in the spool 80L so that the bushing 118 and the idler shaft115 will turn with spool. The bushing 11S at the outer en-d is formedwith an enlarged flange 121, and a relatively strong coil spring 122concentric to the idler shaft 115 is interposed between the flange 121and the forward arm of the mounting bracket 81L, as shown in Fig. 3.This coil spring serves to hold the spool 80L firmly in drivingengagement with the drive dogs 95D of the drive shaft 95.

Forwardly of the bushing 116, the idler shaft 115 is provided with aretainer knob 123. A cooperating retainer in the form of a leaf spring125 is fastened to the outer face of the forward arm of the mountingbracket y81L, and this leaf spring is formed with la portion 125B thatprojects inwardly with respect to the retainer knob 123, thereby servingto limit outward displacement of the idler shaft 115. However, byretracting the spring retainer 125, the idler shaft 115 may be withdrawnto Withdraw the bushing 11S from the spool 80L. To replace a spool as80L, it is merely necessary to press the spool at the rear end in thedirection of the forward arm of the bracket SIL against the action ofthe spring 122 to relieve the spool from the drive dogs. kThe outer endof the idler shaft 115 is provided with a kerf 115K so that a screwdriver or the like may be used to manually rotate the spool 80L throughthe pin 120.

The supply spool SOR, Figs. 5 and l2, is in the form of a relativelyheavy metal core formed with an axial opening extending therethrough,and a long mounting shaft 130, Fig. 3, is passed through this axialopening in the spool 80R. The mounting shaft 130 thus provided is ofsufficient length to project forwardly beyond the forward arm of themounting bracket 81R, and at this end is kerfed at K for the purposementioned above in connection with the shaft 115. The shaft 130 projectsrearwardly beyond the rear arm of the mounting bracket SIR, and abraking sleeve 100A identical to the sleeve 100 described above ismounted on the projecting rear end portion of the shaft 130. Similarly,shoes 106A, Fig. 8, clamp the sleeve 100A, and since this arrangementoperates like the brake for the spool 80L, such need not be redescribed.

The ratchet wheel 84R in this instance is fast on the lspool 80K, and aportion of the spool 80R projects rearwardly beyond the ratchet 84R soas to afford a spacer bushing 132, Fig. 3, interposed between theratchet wheel 84R and the rear arm of the bracket 81R.

The spool 80R is provided with a slot 80S, Fig. 5, through which an endof the ribbon CR may be passed. A split sleeve 135, Fig. 13, is adaptedto be pressed on to the spool 80R, and this sleeve'is formed with radialprojecting ears B which, when the sleeve 135 is on the spool 30R, abutthe forward side of the ratchet 84R as shown in Fig. 3. The sleeve 135is provided with a slot 135S through which the aforementioned end of theribbon CR is adapted to be passed. The sleeve 135 is split at 136, andthe width of the split is such as to expose both ends of the slot 80Swhen the sleeve 135 is on the spool. The sleeve 135 is turned on thespool until the slot 1358 along one split edge thereon registers withone end of a pressure pin 138 at the end of the spool opposite theratchet 84R. Accordingly, by threading the end of the ribbon throughtheregistered slots in the spool and the sleeve, and then by applying arotative force to the ears as 135B, the sleeve 135 can be turned pastand over the pin 138, and the loose end of the ribbon will be securelyclamped between the spool 801. and the sleeve 135.

As will be observed from Fig. 3, the two ratchets 84L and 84R are inalignment. To drive one or the other ratchet so as to index thecorresponding take-up spool through ribbon advancing movements, areciprocable feed lever to, be described in detail below is afforded.This feed lever is adapted to assume one of two respective tiltedpositions whereat means thereon drivingly engage whichever of the tworatchet wheels 84L as 84K is the one associated with the take-up spool,and this feed lever is further adaptedto reverse the. aforesaid twopositions when thel ribbononthe supply spool is exhausted so that drivemeans on the feed lever then drivingly engage the vspool that was justexhaustedto transform this spool in to a take-up spool,

Ribbon reversing mechanism The ribbon spools 80L are arranged to beactuated in a step by step indexing or ribbon advancing movement bymeans including a reciprocable feed lever or pawl bar 150, Figs. 5, 7and 8, which is located in a transverse position rearwardly of theprinting anvil A, as will be observed particularly in Fig. 7. The feedlever 150 issupported vby and actuated witha control lever that issuspended from the rear siderof the anvil A. Thus, as shown particularlyin Fig. 7, a pivot stud 151 extends rearwardly from the anvil A justbelow the top surface 71 thereof and at substantially the medialposition between the opposite ends ofthe anvil A as will be apparent.fromFig 3. Pivoted on a reduced rearwardly extending portion 151R ofthe mounting stud 151 is a depending oscillatable control lever 152which is adapted, as will be described, to reciprocate the feed lever150 from the position shown in Figs. and 8 to the right through an idlemovement, and then back to the position shown in Figs. 5 and 8 vwith apositive action on the ratchet 84L, for taking-up predetermined amountsof the ribbon on the spool 80L.

The control lever 152 hasva vertically slidable bar 153 disposed flushagainst the rear face thereof, and the upper end of the slide bar 153 isnotched at 153N to embrace the remote rear end portion of the mountingstud 151. The notch 153N is relatively deep as will be observedin Fig.5, and .this enables the slide bar 153 to shift vertically withrespectto the control lever 152 for a purpose associated with ribbonreversing as will be mentioned. The slide bar 153 is held against thecontrol lever 152 in part by a C-washer 154 that is sprung into aretainer groove of the usual kind that is provided at the rear end ofthe mounting stud 151.

Theslide 153 is formed withan opening in which is disposed a pin 156having a rearwardly projection portionr157y serving as ananchor forvtheupper end of a coil spring 158 that is adaptedto hold the slide 153 in anormally down position. Thus, the lower end of the coil spring 158 isanchored-to a pin 159 that projects rearwardly from the control lever152. The pin 156 on which the spring 158 is anchored includes aforwardly projecting portion 160, and journaled on this portion of thepin 156 is a cam roller 162 retained in position by a ring and C-washer163 and 164 respectively. It is this roller which serves in part toproduce shifting movementof'the lever` 150 in one direction when thecontrol slide 152 oscillates. t

Substantially in the medial portion, the control lever 152 is providedwith an elongated slot 152N, and the portion of the pin 156 whichcarries the force transmitting roller 162 is disposed in the slot152N'enabling the pin 156 and roller 162 to shift upwardly with respectto the control lever 152 under circumstances to be described.

As will be observed in Figs. 5 and 6,v the roller 162 is adapted toengage an inner side of one or the other of a pair of complementary,generally semi-circular cam surfaces 170 and 171 that are formed in theupper edge of the feed lever 150, and the spring 158 serves to hold theroller 162'rmly down in such relation. These cam surfaces are formed inopposed relation substantially at the mid-point of the feed lever 150and meet to provide a dead center point or tooth 173.

Above the pin 159, the control lever 152 carries a drive pin 180, andthe ends ofthis pin project beyond the opposite faces of the feed lever150 and the slide bar 153 as shown in Fig. 7. The lower end of the slidebar 153`is provided with a downwardly opening slot 153N2 that embracesthe pin 180, and the upper end of this slot is normally held 4down onthe pin 180 by the spring 158. Ring washers as 181v serve to preventoutward displacement of the pinV 180 in the opposite direction, and atthe same time these washers serve in effect to hold the feed lever 150to the control lever 152.

As shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the feed lever 150 in the portion below thedead center point 173 is formed with a generally C-shaped slot 185, andthe`configuration is such that this slot'affords a pair of opposedpockets 185A and 185B that are separated by a downwardly projectingtooth or dead center element 185T directly below the dead center point173. In the portion vthat correspondsto the slot 185, the pin 180 isformed with an enlargement 185B which is adapted to be disposed in oneor the other of the pockets 185Ay and 185B, and it is important to pointout `that the arrangement is such that the pin 180 in part accounts fora tilted condition of the feed 1evert150. Thus, it will be observed thatthepockets 185A and 185B are displaced to either side of the dead centerpoint 173. The spring 158, as was mentioned, tends to hold the slide bar153 downwardly to the extent that the upper end of the slot 153N2engages the pin 189. This arrangement at the same time pulls the roller162 firmly down against the sloped cam surface 171 just adjacent thedead center point 173, and as a consequence the feed lever 150 tends tobe rocked or tilted in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Figs. 5and 8 about the enlargement 185B of the drive pin 180 as a fulcrum. Thisaccounts for a drive pin 150A, Fig. 8,being drivingly engaged with theteeth of the ratchet wheel ML for the take-up spool L. Thus it will beseen that the control lever 152 not only carries and drives 'the feedpawl 150, but it also pro-vides a fulcrum in the form of the pin 180that enables the feed pawl to assume two different driving positionswith respect to the control lever 152. A rst such position would be thatshown wherein the pin 150A is adapted to drive the ratchet 841. Thesecond position will be mentioned below.V

The condi-tion shown in Figs. 5 through 8 will prevail until repeatedreturn reciprocations of the feed lever 150, accomplished in away to bedescribed, exhaust the supply spool 88K. When this occurs, the ribbon CRwill be taut at the end anchored to `the supply spool SUR as illustratedin Fig. 5. Therefore, the drive pin 150A drivingly engaging the ratchet84L is unable to further turn the `takeup spool 84L clockwise as viewedin Fig. 8 so that the feed lever 150 cannot be shifted through a fullreturn movement by the contro-l lever 152. When this condition isencountered, the roller 162, during the time that forces are effectiveto oscillate the control lever 152 in a return direction, will be causedto travel over the dead center point 173 with a snap action to engagethe opposite cam surface 170. This of course is accompanied by an upwardforced movement of the roller 162 'in the slot 152N, and results at thesame time in upward sliding movement of the slide bar 153. This producesdisengagement' betweenthe upper end of the slot 153N2 and the pin 180,and frees the pin for a shift.

Therefore, as the roller 162 travels to the left as viewed in Fig. overthe dead center point 173, which is a forced action as will bedescribedgthe pin 180 is at the same time carried along in a left handdirection with the control lever and the slide bar 153, so that theenlargement 185B is transferred from the pocket 185A to the pocket 185B.Thus, after the roller 162is disposed on the cam surface 170, just toone side of the tooth 173, the enlargement 185E will be disposed inpocket 185B. The fulcrum for the feed lever or pawl bar 150 is therebyshifted tothe opposite side ofthe tooth 173, and the spring 158, actingagain on the roller 162. will be effective to again dispose the parts ina normal condition, as in Fig. 7 except in a reversed sense.

The net effect of the foregoing reversal or transposition is to rock orpivot the feed lever 150 in a clockwise direction on the fulcrum pin 180as viewed in Figs. 5 and 8, so that the drive pin 150A is lowered out ofdriving engagement with the ratchet wheel 84L. At the same time, a drivepin 150B at the opposite end of the feed lever 150 is elevated todrivingly engage the teeth of the ratchet wheel 84R that is associatedwith the spool 80R that was just exhausted. Therefore, subsequentoscillations of the control lever 152 and reciprocation of the feedlever 150 will be effective to rotate the spool 80R counterclockwise asviewed in Fig. 8.

Oscillation is imparted to the control lever 152 by a horizontal link200 which, as shown in Fig. 3, extends inwardly from a point below themounting bar 41L. At its inner end, the link 200 is formed with ahorizontal forwardly projecting end portion 201, and this end portionFig. 7, extends through an opening at the bottom of the control lever152 and is retained in position by C- washers as 201C. The opposite endof the drive link 200, that is, the end that is adjacent the mountingblock 41L, is formed with an upstanding portion 203, Fig. l, whichengages an opening in one arm 206A of a bell crank lever 206 which ispivoted and retained by a C- washer on the lower end of a stud 207. Theupper end of the stud 207 is suitably anchored in the mounting block41L. The opposite arm 206B, Fig. 3, of the bell crank 206 extendsoutwardly beyond the mounting block 41L, and a down-turned end 210 of atransmitting link 212 is mounted in an opening in the arm 206B of theaforementioned bell crank and is retained by C-washers. The end of thetransmitting link 212 opposite the end that is attached to the bellcrank 206 is formed with an inwardly extending portion 213, and this endof the transmitting link 212 is disposed in an opening provided at thelower end of an operating lever 215, Figs. 1 and 2.

As will be observed in Fig. 1, the transmitting lever 215 is disposedoutwardly of the mounting block 41L, and the upper end of this lever isbifurcated at 215B, Fig. 1, so as to embrace a drive pin 218 which isfixed to the arm 37L of the platen lever 37 in position above the pivotpin 40 on which the platen lever 37 is arranged to pivot.

It will be recalled that mention was made of the spring 37S, Fig. 1, andit will be observed that this spring is anchored at one end to the lever215, and at the opposite end this spring is anchored to the rear arm ofthe mounting bracket SIL for the mechanism associated with the ribbonspool SOL. The spring 37S is effective to dispose the platen lever 37and the operating lever 214 in the normal position shown in Fig. 1,When, however motion is imparted to the platen lever 37 the pin 218 iseffective on the bifurcated end of the lever 215 to oscillate the lever215 clockwise, as viewed in Fig. 1. As an incident to this, the bellcrank 206 is pivoted clockwise, as viewed in Fig. 3, and such pulls thelink 200 to the right. Such right hand movement of the link 200 willoscillate the control lever 152 to the right as viewed in Figs. 5 and 8.The feed lever 150 will be shifted with the control lever 152, and thiswill cause the drive pin 150A to be carried idly over the tooth` 'l1-1,Fig. 8, of the ratchet 84L and into the tooth recess R-l. The feed lever150 will pivot slight@ ly to enable this to occur, and when the platenlever 37 has been lowered to an effective or printing position, theaforementioned drive pin 150A will then be operatively engaged with thetooth T-l on the ratchet wheel 84L. Consequently, when the platen lever37 is released to the return action of the spring 37S, the bell crank206 will then pivot counterclockwise, as viewed in Fig. 3, to force thelink'200 to the left as there viewed. The feed lever 152 is thereuponoscillated clockwise, as viewed in Fig. 8, and a positive clockwisemotion is thereupon imparted to the ratchet wheel 84L of the take-upspool.

The foregoing in a reversed sense, that is, when the spool K constitutesthe take-up spool, will be apparent from the foregoing. Thus, briey, thedrive pin B under this circumstance will be operative. When the feedlever 150 first shifts to the right as viewed in Fig. 8, the ratchet 84Rwill be indexed counterclockwise, and when the lever 150 returns thefeed pin 150B will idly move across the next tooth of the ratchet 84R tobe drivingly engaged.

Hence, while I have illustrated and described the preferred embodimentsof my invention, it is to be understood that these are capable ofvariation and modification, and I therefore do not wish to be limited tothe precise details set forth, but desire to avail myself of suchchanges and alterations as fall within the purview of the followingclaim.

I claim:

In a printing machine having a printing anvil, a feed and reversingmechanism for a carbon ribbon and comprising a pair of ribbon spoolssupported outwardly of the respective ends of said anvil and each havinga ratchet wheel and a drive shaft connected thereto for advancing saidspools, clamping means engaging each of said drive shafts to applyindividual retarding forces to said ratchet wheels, means toindividually adjust said clamping means to selectively establish theamount of retarding force ap plied to each of said drive shafts, guiderollers journaled for free rotation outwardly of the ends of said anviland over which the carbon ribbon passes in passing to and from saidspools, a generally vertically disposed control lever pivotally mountedon said anvil and depending therefrom, a generally horizontal feed leverdisposed in a plane between the upper and lower ends of said controllever and having drive means at opposite ends for respectively drivinglyengaging one of said ratchet wheels when said feed lever is in a firsttilted generally horizontal ratchet driving position and for drivinglyengaging the other of said ratchet wheels when in a second tiltedgenerally horizontal ratchet driving position, said feed lever havingopposed upper and lower edges and being formed with an openingsubstantially at its midpoint aording a pair of symmetrical fulcrumpockets disposed between the upper and lower opposed edges of said feedlever, said feed lever having a tooth formed on the periphery of saidopening between said pockets, said tooth pointing downward toward thelower edge of said feed lever, said feed lever having another toothformed on the upper one of said opposed edges thereof and whereat endsof a pair of symmetrical cam surfaces terminate, said cam surfaces alsobeing formed on said upper edge of the feed lever, said teeth beingdirectly opposite one ano-ther and said pockets and said cam surfacesbeing spaced substantially equally from the center points of said teeth,a supporting and driving pin fixed on said control lever and beingnormally disposed in one of said pockets as the sole support for saidfeed lever and for imparting lateral shifting forces to the first namedtooth to move said feed lever laterally upon oscillating movements ofsaid control lever, a second pin normally engaged with one of said camsurfaces, said second pin being fixed on a generally vertically disposedslide bar aligned axially with said control lever, said slide bar beingcarried on said control lever for movement there with ,as a unit andsaid slide bar being adapted to slide axially relative to said controllever to enable said second pin to be relieved from said one c amsurface, a relatively short coil spring anchored at one end adjacent thelower end of said control lever and connected at its other end to thesecond one of said pins to normally hold the second pin carried by theslide bar forcefully againstsaid one cam surface causing said feed levert o f ulc'rum about the rst pin disposed in one of .said pockets asaforesaid, whereby when said feed lever encounters resistance againstlateral movement as 4aforesaid both said pins shift laterally to vtheirsecond positions to establish a new fulcrurn for said feed lever.causing the feed lever to assume its second tilted position, and `drivemeans connected to the lower end Iof said control lever below .saidanchor for said coil spring and below the lower edge of said feed leverand adapted to oscillate said control lever.

References Cited in the file of 1this patent l.UNITED STATES PATENTSDeaneet al. July 5, 1938

